Six days into its life, we're still trying to figure out what Android Q is all about — what will come to define this latest Android release and end up having the most impact on us, as nose-breathing mammals who rely it on to power our cellular telephony gadgets.

We won't truly know Q's defining features until the software's further along in its development and all of its elements have been revealed, but having used it for several days now, some intriguing areas of progress are coming into focus — areas where Google is clearly working on refining the user experience and, in small but potentially significant measures, turning Android into an even more effective productivity tool.

Well, sort of: The first Q developer preview — apparently now being called a "beta" right out of the gate — landed with a thump on these rusty ol' nets of inter Thursday afternoon. The software is far from finished, of course; this is merely an early peek at what Google's cookin' up for its next big Android version, provided mostly as a way for developers to get a head start at preparing for the release's actual arrival later this year (sometime between July and September).

Why, you might wonder? Simple: Whenever I watch unsuspecting strangers use their phones in public (it's not as creepy as it sounds, I swear), I can't help but notice how many people rely solely on their thumbs for on-screen typing.

Me? I've never been a two-thumb typing man myself. I'm also not a full-time swiper, which is another common type of mobile tech typist you see in the wild these days.

More than anything, what I've learned by observing other people's smartphone-using habits is that there is no universal "right" way to type on a smartphone. There are several distinct styles, and what's most natural for one person is gonna feel impossibly awkward to the next. Like so many things, it ultimately boils down to personal preference.

It's a funny thing to consider, because it's something that's evolved almost constantly over time. This year, the top tier of prices is climbing higher than ever, with flagship phones now routinely costing $800 to $1000 — sometimes even more. Heck, the recently announced Galaxy S10 starts at $900 in America, and that's to say nothing of its fancified foldable sibling, the Galaxy Fold, which'll set you back a cool $1,980. That's $450 more than you'd pay for Wirecutter's top-recommended refrigerator, which is presumably something you'd keep for a full decade or two (if not even longer!).

Accessibility in our age of mobile technology is a pretty incredible thing. I mean, think about it: These powerful little computers we carry around in our pockets have the potential to open up all sorts of futuristic possibilities for folks with issues like impaired hearing or limited vision. And in the grand scheme of things, such possibilities are far more transformative than any random phone feature we use to organize our lives or save ourselves a few seconds here and there.

Here's the cool part, though: Those two areas don't have to be mutually exclusive. Some of Android's most interesting accessibility options, in fact, are poised both to help those who truly need them and to be handy beyond their primary purposes in a way that can benefit anyone. They work for accessibility, sure, but they can also be valuable for far more mundane productivity gains.

Chrome OS upgrades come out like clockwork, quietly and automatically, every two to three weeks. Because of the way that operating system is structured, y'see, it's easy for Google to manage the process internally and create a level of consistency that just isn't possible on Android. (On the flip side, of course, a Chromebook's software can't be customized by manufacturers in the way an Android device's can — something that may be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective.)

Looking at the march of Android-related announcements stomping out of the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona this week, it's hard not to feel like you're watching a really weird high-tech circus — a parade of attention-grabbing oddities and eccentric abilities, all on display because the ringmaster knows you'll look.

On one side of the big top, you've got the LG G8 ThinQ (gesundheit!), with its wild new trick that lets you unlock your phone or even control the device by waving your palm just so or making odd claw shapes with your fingers (because that's apparently something people want to do). Elsewhere, you see the V50 ThinQ 5G (gesundheit — my goodness!), a chunky phone with a built-in cooling system, a glowing 5G logo on its back, and an awkward secondary screen that attaches via a separate case.

Sometimes, a crazy type of technology comes along that you just know is going to change everything — to usher in a completely new style of productivity and revolutionize the very way we work, play, and sing our silly ol' sailor songs.

I hate to be the curmudgeonly old grouch sipping cream soda on the corner (that's what curmudgeonly old grouches do, isn't it?), but lemme tell ya: Samsung's newly announced Galaxy Fold is not that item.

The Galaxy Fold, in case you've spent the past 24 hours folded up on a couch and slumbering, is Samsung's latest and greatest "next big thing" — one of the company's trademark wild ideas that's bound to draw accolades and attention. The device, in short, is an Android phone that folds out to reveal an Android tablet. Wild, right?!

For nearly two years now, Project Treble has served as a source of hope and inspiration for the Android faithful — a magical-seeming fix for a long-standing source of frustration.

Unveiled in the spring of 2017, Project Treble is Google's most ambitious effort ever to rethink the structure of Android, as an operating system, and break the software down in some wild new ways — all with the aim of making it easier for phone-makers to get OS updates out to their devices in a reasonably timely manner. Android upgrades have been a major pain point on the platform practically since the start, and despite all of Google's previous efforts, manufacturers just keep getting worse at providing post-sales software support to their highest-paying customers.

Every year, it happens like clockwork: I publish my six-month-long, data-driven analysis of how Android device-makers are doing when it comes to getting operating system updates onto their phones — and within a matter of hours, the standard responses start a-rollin' in:

I don't need any of the features from Pie, and my phone already had some of 'em, anyway — so what's the difference?

I doubt anyone who owns a Samsung phone even knows what version of Android their phone is running, so who cares?

By this point, it's no secret that Android upgrades are a mess — but this was supposed to be the cycle where everything got better.

Google's Android 9 Pie release was the first Android version to feature the full benefits of Project Treble, a complex effort to make it easier for manufacturers to update their devices with new operating system versions. And lemme tell ya: Such a solution has never been more desperately needed.

Google's Chrome OS is one of the world's most misunderstood computing platforms. Chromebooks are foundationally different from traditional PCs, after all — and consequently, there are a lot of misconceptions about how they work and what they can and can't do.

Since people are always asking me whether a Chromebook might be right for their needs, I thought I'd put together a quick guide to help any such wonderers figure it out. Whether it's you or someone you know who's curious, the following three questions should help shed some light on what the platform's all about and for whom it makes sense.

Ah, Inbox. Dear, sweet Inbox. When we first met, I'll be honest: I wasn't so sure about you. But you were intent on winning me over, weren't you? You worked on yourself and got better — stronger, more capable, more confident. Finally, I saw the light. And boy golly, did we make a great pair.

We had some good times, the two of us — getting cozy on my desktop at work, staring at each other through my laptop at night, even touching in all sorts of places on my Android phone. (At the risk of being ungentlemanly, let me just say: It was a lovely feeling to know you were always in my pocket.) The past few years are filled with heart-warming memories.

As we gear up for another big Android release and consider both hopes and clues for the still-mysterious "Q," it's a fine time to remember that flashy new features don't always play out in the way we might think.

Sometimes, it's the fault of Google's execution and notorious lack of commitment. Remember the insanely impressive Google Now on Tap concept, which ended up being promising but inconsistent — and then ultimately got brushed aside and abandoned not long after its debut? Other times, it's a matter of underlying tech being outmatched by newer and simpler alternatives — like what happened with the once-futuristic-seeming Android Beam, which has languished almost unnoticed in Android for years (and finally appears to be on the brink of being put to bed).

A true system-wide dark mode is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated early elements of Google's upcoming Android Q release — and little by little, apps appear to be gearing up to support the new setup.

According to a leaked early development build of the software, Android Q will provide a single switch that shifts an entire device into a darker state — not only elements of the operating system but also the interfaces of individual apps. A since-deleted posting by a Googler had previously suggested that dark mode was an "approved Q feature" and that the teams responsible for preloaded Google apps were told to make sure their programs had compatible themes ready to roll by the time Q arrived.

This year's upcoming Android Q release is still surrounded by mystery — including the the most pressing question of all: With "Q" as its leading letter, what in the world could Google possibly be planning to name the thing? (I'm hoping for Quetschentaart, personally.)

While that query may remained unanswered for now, we do have a few fascinating clues about Q to chew over this January. They come to us by way of an apparent early development build of the software that landed in the hands of enthusiast website XDA Developers last week — and they give us our first detailed glimpse at what Google appears to be working on with this next-gen Android update.

When you stop and think about it, we've reached a really interesting point in the evolution of smartphone software. By and large, the foundation for our mobile tech devices these days is pretty darn decent — "mature," as people who take themselves a little too seriously like to say.

That means we don't see many of the seismic shifts that used to be near-annual occurrences anymore — y'know, the dramatic redesigns and interface rebirths that were almost comically common in the years from Froyo to Lollipop.

And you know what? That's not necessarily a bad thing. With a solid foundation in place, the folks responsible for Android can focus on under-the-hood improvements in areas like performance and privacy along with small but significant above-the-surface enhancements — the sorts of tweaks and additions that may not dramatically change our virtual environments but do make some part of our lives a little more pleasant. If you ask me, those types of changes are often the ones that deliver the most noticeable day-to-day impact.

As far as computers go, Chromebooks are almost shockingly low-maintenance. Google's Chrome OS operating system updates itself silently and automatically — as do most of the core apps associated with the platform — and it doesn't get gunked up and slowed down over time, as traditional operating systems tend to do. There's no antivirus software to fret over, either, and little in the way of complicated settings or compatibility concerns. By and large, things "just work" — like, for real.

Ah, the beginning of a new year: What better time to clean up, start fresh, and make sure your various work spaces are primed for productivity?

Making your physical desk presentable is all on you (seriously, pal, would it kill ya to do a little dusting once in a while?), but when it comes to that virtual office in your pocket — y'know, that shiny ol' smartphone of yours — I'm here to help.

A handful of simple-seeming steps can go a long way in clearing out the virtual clutter, y'see, and turning your Android phone back into the optimal work companion it oughta be. And best of all? It shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes to complete.

So pop open your hood, put on the nearest pair of coveralls, and get ready to get your hands metaphorically dirty: It's time to step into the garage and get your mobile device in tip-top shape for 2019.

Nobody panic, but I'm pretty sure there's been a glitch in the matrix.

My calendar insists it's 2019, y'see, but my brain is fairly certain that can't be possible. I mean, c'mon: Did another year somehow slip by us already? Has my holiday hibernation time actually come to an end? Are we really, truly at the start of a whole new orbit around that hot, boastful sun of ours?

Truth be told, I'm pretty skeptical — but until I wake up and determine this is a dream, I reckon we oughta go ahead and act like a new year has begun. And that means it's time to think ahead to the themes and trends we're likely to see taking shape here in the land o' Android over these next 12 months.

When it comes to mobile technology, trends mean so much more than any single event.

That's a notion we see reinforced time and time again here in the land o' Android — and that's why so much of our focus in this little corner of the internub is on the bigger-picture view of what's going on with Google. By looking at those broader trends, we can get a sense of how the company's strategies are shifting and what those changes suggest about the future of Android and other mobile tech efforts.

We had no shortage of such matters to consider in 2018 — and some of the trends we've observed over these past 12 months will almost certainly inform the patterns we'll see over the course of the coming year.

Over the course of the past 12 months, Google's oft-overlooked "other" platform has evolved and expanded to the point where it's almost unrecognizable from its 2017 form. Chromebooks today boast a totally reimagined user interface, with more Android-like elements than ever and a strong focus on touch-friendly gestures and design. The software's current incarnation has a true tablet home screen, a phone-like floating virtual keyboard, and system-level integration of Google Assistant (in the midst of rolling out broadly right now).

Ah, the holidays. No matter what style of winter celebration you prefer (I'm a Festivus man myself), late December is a fine time for kicking back and regrouping for the coming year.

That means it's also a fine time for contemplating that crazy little computer in your pocket and what steps you can take to make it even more powerful — because guess what? A few minutes of tuning up now will make your life infinitely easier throughout all of 2019. Think of it as a gift to yourself — one that keeps on giving and, best of all, doesn't cost you a single dime.

In case you missed any of 'em the first go-round or maybe just didn't have time to try everything out, here are some of my favorite productivity-boosting Android tips from 2018. Pour yourself some cocoa, polish up the ol' Festivus pole, and give yourself the gift of finely tuned technology.

Android security is always a hot topic on these here Nets of Inter — and almost always for the wrong reason.

As we've discussed ad nauseam over the years, most of the missives you read about this-or-that super-scary malware/virus/brain-eating-boogie-monster are overly sensationalized accounts tied to theoretical threats with practically zero chance of actually affecting you in the real world. If you look closely, in fact, you'll start to notice that the vast majority of those stories stem from companies that — gasp! — make their money selling malware protection programs for Android phones. (Pure coincidence, right?)

Have you heard? Some vaguely defined but super-snazzy-sounding thing called 5G is, like, totally coming to knock your socks off any second now. It's gonna speed up your phone, revolutionize your productivity, and probably even lower your cholesterol.

Okay, so maybe some of that is pure poppycock. But you know what? So is the very idea that 5G is anything an average person should get excited about — or consider adopting — in the coming year.

You'd be forgiven for thinking otherwise. After all, the mobile tech marketing machine has been revving up considerably over these past few weeks, pushing out all sorts of spectacular-sounding narratives about how 5G is going to change the way we work, live, and lather. (Again, at least one of those items is my own nonsensical creation, but I'd argue that all of them are equally absurd.)

Got Fi? Google's unusual wireless service may have shifted its name from Project Fi to Google Fi this fall, but its core proposition remains the same: Pay only for the data you use, and avoid all the traditional carrier gotchas and nonsense.

For the right kind of person, especially among those of us on Android, Fi can be a real cost- and hassle-saver. And aside from its most prominently promoted perks — the seamless network-switching, the public Wi-Fi use, the fee-free roaming and hotspot capabilities, and so on — Fi has some pretty interesting out-of-the-way options that can really elevate your experience.

Google Fi may sound like some weird sort of initiation ritual ("Whoa, what happened to Rick? I heard he got Googlefied!") — but if you can get past its silly-sounding name, the recently rebranded wireless service can both save you money and step up your smartphone security situation.

Make no mistake about it: Google Fi — known as Project Fi up until last week — is a pretty unusual proposition. And it absolutely won't make sense for everyone. If you fall into a certain style of smartphone usage, though, it can eliminate a lot of the downsides that typically come with a traditional wireless plan.

So maybe you've heard: Google's got a new high-end Pixel product that's finally ready for us productivity-hunting primates to purchase.

The product is curiously tough to define. It's a tablet, but probably not like any other tablet you've used before. It's a laptop, but only kinda — and with a fair number of asterisks attached. And it doesn't run Android, exactly, though it does run Android apps and have an interface that'll feel awfully familiar if you've used a recent Android phone.

The product, as you no doubt know (you smart cookie, you), is the Pixel Slate — a convertible Chrome OS computing device that doubles as both a laptop and a tablet, provided you pick up its optional keyboard accessory. On paper, it almost seems like a more versatile version of Google's high-end Pixelbook, which is basically the same thing except with a display that swivels back instead of detaching completely.

Encryption may sound like a subject best left to hackers and tinfoil hat wearers, but don't be fooled: It's a critical part of contemporary life and something that's important for everyone, especially business users, to understand. And one of the places where encryption is most relevant and misunderstood is in the realm of email.

If you're using Gmail for electronic communication — be it for business, for personal use, or a combination of the two — it's well worth your while to know how the service does and doesn't secure your information and what steps you can take to make sure you're getting the level of privacy you need.

You might not know it from all the panic-inducing headlines out there, but Android is actually packed with powerful and practical security features. Some are activated by default and protecting you whether you realize it or not, while others are more out of the way but equally deserving of your attention.

So stop wasting your time worrying about the Android malware monster du jour and which security company is using it to scare you into an unnecessary subscription, and take a moment instead to look through these far more impactful Android security settings — starting with the core elements and moving from there into some more advanced and easily overlooked options.